Lee Bowyer: Controversial (ShaunBotterill/Allsport)

The controversial star was cleared at his trial of affray and serious assault charges against Asian student Safraz Najeib.

But speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Ridsdale said: 'I was asked by manager David O'Leary this week whether I would consider signing Lee, knowing what I know now. The answer is: "No, I wouldn't".

'But he is a player with Leeds United and on the field he is excellent and he was found not guilty of all charges against him.'

Bowyer scored on his return at Elland Road yesterday but Leeds still slumped to a 4-3 defeat to Premiership leaders Newcastle.

The club have faced calls to sack Bowyer, who has been labelled a liar, a racist and a thug, and the midfielder was initially placed on the transfer list after refusing to pay a four-week fine for breaking the club's code of conduct.

But he was restored to the side after agreeing to make a contribution to inner-city charities and to participate in community schemes.

Bowyer still faces civil charges from Najeib and has a violent, racist past.

Shortly after signing in 1996, he was convicted of affray for hurling chairs at workers in a McDonald's restaurant.

One of the McDonald's workers, Shamsul Mia, has claimed that before the attack Bowyer had said: 'I just don't want to be served by a Paki.'

A former girlfriend of Bowyer, Emma Keeney, whose mother is part-Indian, also claimed that Bowyer said they could not stay together because they might have a 'brown throwback baby'.

Keeney said: 'Lee said we could-n't stay together because if we had a baby it might be a "throwback.î I asked him what he meant and he said: 'You know, we could have a brown baby. It could be the colour of your mumî.'